Our original plan this morning was to arrive in Daitō (大塔) for our hotpot meal a little before noon; but I had a slight change of plans the moment I spotted a French pastry shop on Google Maps not far from our route coming from Takeo (武雄).
Located on the eastern edge of Sasebo, the little French pâtisserie is called Pâtisserie Française Hiro.
I was curious if they would be closed on Christmas day but apparently not.
It's business as usual here.
A closer look at the display counter revealed that most of the pastries were still works in progress, except for a batch of Japanese strawberry cakes, a Japanese cheesecake, and an opera cake.
Opera cake (400 yen) — It had been a while since I enjoyed an opera cake, and this one looked as authentic as it gets. The sophisticated, rectangular pastry featured precise, thin layers of almond sponge cake (or joconde) soaked in coffee syrup, alternating with coffee French buttercream and chocolate ganache. It was nicely topped with a smooth dark chocolate glaze and, of course, a gold leaf for authenticity.
The last time I had an opera cake was in Paris, and this was equally delicious. It was a nice, pleasant surprise to find a piece of Paris in a quiet neighborhood of Sasebo.
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The owner-chef looked like an older gentleman who is passionate about his pastries (otherwise, he wouldn’t be here on Christmas Day). Before I stepped out the door, I wished him a Merry Christmas before bidding farewell, and he returned the greeting with a smile.
Food Rating: 6.1/10
Price: ￥￥
Address: 37-2 Mikawachihonmachi, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3151, Japan
Closest Train Station: Mikawachi
Tel: +81 (0)956-30-6200
Opening Hours: 10:00am - 7:00pm (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri), 10:00am - 6:00pm (Sat - Sun)
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